28 drown as boat capsizes in Yamuna

Boat, with 60 onboard, capsizes in Baghpat In another mishap, six people of a family including four minors drowned in river Ganga in Patna district

AN OVERLOADED boat carrying around 60 people, capsized on Thursday in the Yamuna, in the Jat hinterland district of Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 28, mostly labourers.Family members of the victims went on the rampage on the Saharanpur-Delhi highway and damaged several vehicles before officials pacified them. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force arrived from Ghaziabad to assist in the rescue operations and retrieve the remaining bodies.

Officials asserted that the death toll could be around 30. Local people claimed that still around 20 people are missing. District Magistrate Bhawani Singh told UNI here that 20 bodies had been recovered so far.

Officials in Baghpat said 19 bodies had been identified. They are Tej Pal, Rajo, Rampal, Illiavas, Munesh, Sonveri, Choti, Rama, Anil, Kajal, Vasi, Juveda, Nasiban, Santa, Moni, Shyamveri, Rajviri, wife of Phool Singh and Rekha.Bhawani Singh said the boat, carrying labourers from Baghpat to Haryana, was overloaded and capsized on the UP-Haryana border. Around 15 people were rescued by the local people.

There were 12 women among the victims. President Ram Nath Kovind, who is visiting his home state, UP, on Thursday, offered condolences to those killed in the tragedy. “Sad to hear about the Baghpat boat tragedy. Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Wishing quick recovery to those rescued,” the President posted on Twitter. UP governor Ram Naik mourned the tragic accident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and directed district officials to provide all assistance to the families of the victims.

Inspector General of Police (Meerut Zone) Ram Kumar, along with other officials, were camping at the spot.Most of the victims hailed from Katha village under Kotwali Police Station area of the district. UNI reported from Patna that at least four girls of a family drowned and two were missing today after they were caught in the strong currents of the Ganga near Tajpur village under Mokamah police station area in the district.

Six of a family drown in Ganga: SIX persons of a family including four minors on Thursday drowned in river Ganga at Maranchi village in Patna district, a top district official said.Six members of the family had gone to take bath in the river when one or two persons slipped into deep waters.